When Matt “The Armless Archer” Stutzman told DragCoverage that “race cars don’t care that I have a disability, and the people at the track don’t care either,” it resonated deeply across the racing community. This month, we see that same truth embodied in another racer—Georgia’s own Seth Bonner.
Seth’s story is one of family, resilience, and a lifelong passion for racing that no obstacle could dim.
Born Into Racing
For Seth, racing isn’t just a hobby—it’s heritage. His family has owned and operated The Race Factory in Hampton, Georgia since 1996, making the Bonner name synonymous with horsepower in the region. His grandfather first strapped into a race car in the 1970s. His father carried the torch after him. By the time Seth came along, saying he was “born into racing” was more than an expression—it was simply fact.
“Racing is in his blood,” those around him often say. And if you’ve seen Seth at the track, you know it’s true.
A Life-Changing Moment
A Life-Changing Moment
At 17 years old, Seth’s life changed in an instant. An unfortunate wreck in his daily driver left him paralyzed from the belly button down. For many, that might have meant stepping away from racing altogether. For Seth, it was simply a new chapter.
“You can’t be afraid of what you love to do,” Seth says. “Disability or not.”
Still in the Lanes
Even while building toward his own future in the driver’s seat, Seth is ever-present at the racetrack. He’s there in the staging lanes, backing up his dad, helping line up racing friends, and being part of the heartbeat of every weekend.
It’s humbling to watch. Seth doesn’t just love the sport—he lives it.
The Next Step
Seth and his family are currently in the process of building an S10 truck for him to race, a project that will bring his legacy full circle. But Seth isn’t just waiting to drive—he’s preparing to learn. He plans on attending FuelTech School, where he’ll gain knowledge in EFI, data loggers, and tuning. That’s not just about making his own truck faster—it’s about carrying forward The Race Factory’s legacy of helping others go quicker and straighter.
Resilience, Community, and Love for the Sport
In so many ways, Seth’s journey echoes Matt Stutzman’s. Both men faced challenges that could have ended their dreams before they even started. Both refused to let circumstances define them. Both found strength in the racing community, where the only thing that matters is what you bring to the line.
The story of racers like Matt and Seth remind us that while the cars may run on fuel and fire, the sport itself runs on something deeper: love, resilience, and the refusal to give up.
Because at the end of the day, race cars don’t care who you are. They only care how badly you want to race.
